Which Paint?

[harrison429]

I went to 2 paint stores today to hear what they had to say about painting the trailer. I brought the small section (next to rear window) for them to see how the trailer was currently painted. When I got home, I looked for online product reviews but really don't see much out there to help me know which is the right choice. I plan to roll-on the paint.

Sherwin williams says I currently have a latex paint on my trailer and they recommend:

Multi-purpose latex primer w/DTM acrylic coating
(re-reading redirts blog I now wonder why they didn't mention an industrial alkyd enamel like he used)

Porter Paint says:

PPG break-through, no primer needed (tho one site said its no good for rolling as it dries too quickly)

or, in their opinion, a not as good option of:

Aquacron 880 hc w/like primer

Any suggestions/advice on which kind of paint?
(I have to paint the whole trailer so rattle cans are not an option, also, lack of tintable color not an option)

I'm hoping to get to the painting within 2 weeks.

Thanks

[harrison429]

Okay, originially I started this post with info of my 2nd trip to paint stores but instead I'll share what I've learned from all the stores and internet research(which is way more than I wanted to).

According to all the places the choices for rolling-on my paint are: (spraying paint gets different answers so this is only for roll-on)

Choice #1

Industrial Oil Enamel (aka alkyd enamel). Comes in glossy finish.
Pros-~50% more durable than satin finish of latex paint
- Curing time is equal to dry time, so once it's dry, it's cured (cures from inside layer of paint to outside layer)
Cons - oil paint has a tendency to chalk, how long that takes is dependent upon environmental factors
- fades faster than latex (water based) DTM paints

Priming is recommended by one person but not the other though it will aid in less coats of top coat, esp if using darker colors.
Primer recommended is a White rust inhibitor but can be tinted for colored areas.

Choice #2

All surface DTM (direct to metal) latex enamel. Only comes in satin finish.

Pros - longer lasting finish

Cons - curing time is long, may be dry to touch but still not cured. (dries from outside inward)
-shorter dry time while rolling means more textured finish so need addt'l product for smoother finish
- even when cured, finish isn't as tough as oil based enamel

So now I see that truly the only decision I have to make is whether I want a satin or glossy finish. Hopefully this will save someone else the headaches this has given me!

ps. this research is based on my desire not to use automotive paint (cost), or the limited color choices of rustoleum or using the rattle cans.

[Hamlet]

You said you went to two paint stores. I'd add a third (if you haven't already done this). Go to an automotive paint store. You may decide to do something else, but at least you'll have their perspective. We also went to three auto painting places to get their opinions. We had done a pretty fair amount of bondo work (the skin was a mess) and were told in all three places that bondo on thin aluminum might not hold if the trailer is used (that is, bounced around on roads) a lot. Good luck, we'll all be waiting for pictures of the finished product!

[harrison429]

I didn't go to automotive stores because everyone tells me automotive paint is more expensive and isn't a good option for rolling paint.

I'm looking forward to the finished product too! haha

[Hamlet]

We sometimes tend to overdo things, but we figured that automotive paint (although more expensive) is designed for vehicles traveling at high rates of speed. Most barbecues, patio furniture, and bookshelves don't travel nearly so fast, so the paint may not need to be as durable. Auto paint also mostly has a lot more VOC than other paints do, so you'd have to use it in a really well-ventilated area and use a respirator-type mask, and you're right, I don't think you can roll it.

[kdwhitney]

I have read where tractor paint is a good choice as it is very durable. It can also be applied with a foam roller. I am hoping to start painting mine next week or so

[harrison429]

If spraying was a choice I certainly would have looked at automotive paint just so I would understand ALL my optopns. It would just make sense since like you say Hamlet, that paint would be fulfilling its intended purpose.

As I understand it, the paint I've chosen, the Industrial alkyd enamel is a tractor paint.

Good luck on your painting Kdwhitney and make sure to post your pix!

[Hamlet]

Tractor paint is a great idea. It's going to turn out great! (That is a shameless request for pics!)

[harrison429]

Haha...Hamlet, do you really think any of us wouldn't post pix of our final glory?! I can't wait to get to that point and really show off the night and day difference from my ugly battleship gray trailer to my marvelous 2 tone, z-striped work of art...I may retire from the art world after I've completed my master work! haha

[Hamlet]

Well, that's true, we all are rather exhibitionists and braggarts when it comes to our Shastas. But then again, who could blame us when they see how cute/gorgeous/practical and full of personality they are?

[iamokie]

I used Valspar Tractor & Farm Implement paint...International Harvestor Red, Gloss White, and Gloss Black. I used a foam roller to apply it. It turned out great! Its easy to use. In addition, I used a metal etching primer on all of the exposed metal areas and I used Valspar Enamel Hardening Agent in each gallon of paint that I used. Its a year and half later now and I could not be happier with how it looks.

[lopo]

So has anyone found a good paint that can be mixed to any color, and rolled on successfully? And rolled on with the foam rollers, right? Harrison429, could you give me a follow up report on how you did yours? I PM'd you, too. What I mean is, HELP!!

[boneneck]

What's up with "the $50 paint job". Isn't it 50/50 mix enamel and mineral spirits? I've seen the tutorial where someone painted a Corvair I think. I'd need to check again, but I think there was a thread on the forum here about it.

[lopo]

It's with Rustoleum and I would do it, but Rustoleum doesn't have the off-white color (the original color) of my Compact. Well, they have Heritage White in latex satin in a spray can, but that doesn't count.

[lopo]

Ok, here's my painting plan. Please let me know if you see something stupid that I'm about to do. I called a professional painter (houses, commercial) who has done work for me, and he's going to spray it for me. ACE Hardware has their own version of the high gloss Rustoleum which they will mix to any color! I did not know that. It's called Ace Rust Stop. So I've got my paint and the Zinsser's Cover Stain primer, their best. Larry's going to wash, lightly sand, wipe with lacquer thinner, prime and spray it, and the gold anodized parts (the side band and the bottom front) he will spray with the rattle can Rustoleum Hammered Gold. And I believe I want the bumper and hitch Rustoleum gloss black, as well as the porch light. My wings are already black and polished up pretty nice so I don't think I'll have to repaint them. (Trying to think ahead in case I sell Shasta Bear someday and someone wants to remove the black paint which was on it when I bought them. I'm thinking it will be that much easier to remove it if I don't put more on.) What do y'all think?

[chris]

You might want to try a couple samples. The finish in the hammered gold looks kinda old and flat. Not that there is anything wrong with it. Before you settle on it you may want to try a sample of a bright gold metallic paint. I have a can of Valspar gold, labeled "Brilliant Metal" that I tried side-by-side with the hammered, and really like the way the "brilliant" turned out. Judging by the cap the finish should resemble a 24-kt gold finish, but it is a little more subdued on the quilted texture of the aluminum. The one drawback I see is that it is labeled also as an interior paint. Not sure how it will hold up, but maybe a coat of clearcoat may seal it enough to protect it.

[lopo]

Your Shasta has that same anodized gold that mine does? Thanks for the heads-up on the hammered gold? "Old and flat" is pretty much what I've got right now. I think I'll just find a different gold and have Ace make up a quart of it for me like they did with the other.

[chris]

Both of mine may have been the anodized. The red paint job on the Compact looks like someone put it on with a whisk broom, so the original may have been the gold. The 1970 is definitely anodized, even though the paint is so faded it looks like ...well, not sure what. I removed a couple reflectors and such from it and found somewhat of a sample of the original color, and the bright metal gold looked closer to it than did the hammered. Don't get me wrong, I like the hammered finish, but just not on that large of an area of the exterior that the gold stripe and all occupy.

I was originally going to trick out the truck a little, add some chrome accessories to it, then paint the Shasta to match, black with chrome stripe, emblems, and accessories. Then I realized how many air conditioners one may need with a black camper. Besides we may not always have a black truck.....so then the original colors seemed to make absolutely the most sense.

[lopo]

I have thought of a hundred different schemes, and there's something about the design that isn't easy to change. It's the straight lines, I think, rather than the curved ones of the older Compacts. And I've seen attempts to change the gold to other colors (like your red whisk broom job), and I only like it if the bottom half is painted a different color. I thought of that, but with my a/c issues in Florida, I figured I'd better stick with the white - or is this case, ivory. I'm hoping the black accents will liven it up a bit - along with a prettier gold.

[cowcharge]

"But then again, who could blame us when they see how cute/gorgeous/practical and full of personality we are?"

Fixed it for you, Hamlet.

[lopo]

I just found auto paint touch-ups in bunches of colors! Seem perfect for the band on the side. Now to pick the color!!

[chris]

Good luck pickin'.

I thought about just that for the Compact too. It is currently red, and looks good, but not sure what I will do with that later. Probably much later, best tackle the 16 first, since it is half tore down. I am thinking aqua for the Compact.

[lopo]

Ha! Me, too. I think Ford Cayman is what I'll go with. Great minds... (Do you think the black accents will be sharp?)

[cowcharge]

I think the black bits will look sharp with white and gold (and not just because those are three of my four interior colors either), although I'd be tempted to do the wings in gold too, I think they'd go better than black. Might be too big a black spot, if you know what I mean...

[chris]

Oooh I am gettin a vision here... aqua stripe in the middle, with the aqua panels around front and rear windows, gold stripe bottom, blacked-out chrome, and gold wings....

[brianklein]

FWIW, there are alot of auto paint stores that can mix any color of paint and put it into a spray can for you, so that you have more color option than what your Walmart has on the shelf. When I have a car painted, I will take some of the excess and have it put into a can, so that I can detail parts later. The color out of the can is not exact to what was sprayed due to the difference in thinning and also it wont have a hardner in it, but I have used it years after it was put into a spray can and it still works.
This is more expensive than walmart spray paint, but it is auto paint, and it works good. Also some stores will do it with metalic paints and some wont.
Brian